Bushwalk Australia

I'm looking for waterproof mittens. I live a few hours from Melbourne, so I like to have done some research online before hand to make to trip worthwhile.

It seems as though they aren't a common item. I can only find references to them for sale online from US:
http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/mitts.shtml
http://lukesultralite.com/content/waterproofbreathable-over-mittens
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=51

I'd rather buy them from Melbourne, but I can't see any local online references to them.

I'm not wanting a glove as I thought a mitten would be simpler and warmer.

Any suggestions from people??

I looked for wp overmitts but didn't really find anything. The idea was wool or fleece gloves under wp mitten covers so when needing to use fingers I could take the mitt off and still have warm fingers. Never found anything, tried ski , motorcycling etc and ended up with some OR wp mittens. No room for gloves inside but a recent few days walking in rain hail and wind, they did keep my hands warm and dry while on, and returned warmth quickly when I had to take them off and on again.

Not what you are looking for I know

All of those you have linked look like they would do the job. I would still consider using gloves rather than mittens as liners though.

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-ge ... mitts.html
my favourite is no longer allowed to be sold to non-military non-US
The Mutant mitts are great and the most versatile and plenty available on evilbate

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-US-ARMY- ... 337d01ec74

but these look OK too

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-ge ... mitts.html

Seems as though I'm not crazy, they are a difficult item.

My plan is to wear gloves underneath. Polypro gloves and/or fleece gloves if cold.

I've got a pair of the MLD event ones.

They are a bit like putting your hand in a shopping bag, but they do the job. Also very light, weight is negligible. I carry them more than use them, but good to have when I need them, especially for bad weather in alpine areas where the pinkies can get cold fast. I usually use a warm fleece glove under them.

might pay to ring the outdoor shops, some of them don't list their entire content online especially smaller outfits, any place that prides itself as a one stop bushwalking shop should have something like this.

these come as a combo with gloves, OR make some of the best outdoor handwear around
http://www.bogong.com.au/clothing/glove ... black.html

You don't actually say what you want them for and that could be important.
If you're heading for really cold territory, like -20 to -25 C I can thoroughly recommend the OR Alti mitt, very effective.
If you're not going that cold then the Adrenaline should suit, but there are plenty of good ones around.

I want the mitts only for bushwalking. I am an experienced bushwalker in Victoria and have thus far not needed to own a mitten like this before. Occasionally in the high country I have wanted them. Especially at Mt Kozi when it snowed on Dec 19th!!.

A few years ago I went cross country skiing and borrowed a pair. They were useful then. With my partner, we intend on doing a lot of walking in New Zealand over the next few years. We will only be in NZ during the warmer months. I felt a pair of over mitts would be useful for walking in weather that is potentially going to be colder and wetter than what I am accustomed too.

The mutant mitts look good, but only seem to exist in X-Large. Which would be okay for me, but not my partner. so It would be a waste buying them as the inner gloves would be awkward on her fingers.

The OR mitts all look great. However as I'm not expecting to use them much I figure the durability and technical features of some of the OR mitts are overkill for me.

Mittens are not that hard to make and don't have to be goretex, simple proofed nylon ones work quite well as does japara and canvas, I have an old pair in canvas i got in Scotland 40 years ago that still work very well. Do you want a pattern? I have one here you can scale down if needed

you really only need mittens if your current gloves arent waterproof.
i dont use mittens at any time of year in nz.
i'd only consider them if my hands were coming into contact with snow and ice and i was handling an ice axe in freezing weather. but if you ahve a decent pair of gloves with decent insulation its really not necessary to take mits

Well mittens have such a high warmth to weight ratio that they are top of my list for colder weather and while I wear gloves almost all the time above the snowline; mittens or a mitten shell are always at the top of my pack. These days I tend to use the Mutant shells over my lightest weight gloves and if buying new ones I would definitely go with the 3-finger/trigger finger style as they are much more versatile, but a full mitten is warmer

Another vote for the MLD eVent mitt's. I really love mine. Used them this winter gone one day walking when temps hovered around 0°C and windy. Really impressed. No glove underneath, Just wanted to try them to block the wind and keep my hands not frozen. Worked a lot better than I though. Without a glove under the mitt your dexterity is actually quite good as the eVent is very thin. Just blocking the icy wind was all that I needed that day whilst moving.

I use these: http://www.mainpeak.com.au/snow/snowsports-clothing-accessories/mitts/montane-resolute-mitts.html
I think they are great.

Of course you can always just throw a few bread bags in your sack, just in case

but wont the bread get all crumbly when he puts his hands in them, and if he's sweating or the rain gets in then all gooopy....

Wayne's right about the use of mitts. I've never had cause to use them here or in NZ either.
I've only used them in really cold and icy conditions at altitude overseas.
I good pair of gloves should do the trick.

thea good pair of gloves with recent insulation technology can cope with any conditions you'll find in nz. otherwise mitten shells can help bolster cheaper gloves

The only reason I have gone to mitts is that with wet hands gloves can be quite difficult to get on and off, where as mitts are much easier.

Try the OR Adrenalins.
Bivouac in NZ have them for NZ$69.

Another idea to throw out there - I use fleece 'flip top' mitts (fingerless fleece gloves with a fleece mitt over the fingertips that can be flipped back when you need more dexterity). For just walking in the cold the mitts stay down, otherwise tucked up.

They are amazingly warm even when sopping wet. You can see them in action here http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=11563 (photo with me with the tent in the snow).

are they windproof?

This is what I use :

merino/possum wool gloves, Paddy Pallin mittens.
Total weight 135g
That works for me from just rain to -10c or so.
The mittens (waterproof) are similar to the light eVent/Gore Tex types

Bogong have the OR Meteor mitts with removable liner,however they are 270g..

wayno wrote:are they windproof?

Yes - windstopper fleece though i have had non-windstopper in same design and I didn't feel like I was lacking anything.

I use Extremities brand Tuff Bags. Very strong, gortex, seam sealed and under 90grams in size XL.

You can even modify them to cut down weight if gram counting. I got mine in from the UK.

Like others have said, they're the sort of thing you carry around more than use, but when things turn nasty, they are great to have.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm heading to the city next weekend. Hopefully I'll get a chance to check out what's in store.

I like the look of the Tuff Bag mitts. I'd prefer them over the MLD mitts as they appear to be more durable and would fit better with the adjustable wrist strap. They seem to available for about $35 at the moment (~50% off). I think they are old stock and not the latest model (Guide Tuff Bags)
http://www.sportsdirect.com/extremities-tuff-bag-mitts-908455?src=google
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/code/1C310129


But not in small size, which is what my partner would need.


It would seem also that Terra Nova have also got an new lightwight model
http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/clothing-accessories/all-gloves-mitts/top-bags/ It seems to be quite similar to the MLD ones, but it's looks to have a better cut and an adjustable wrist strap. Terra Nova doesn't recommend them to be used with walking/ski poles. I am not too concerned with this as I don't think we'll use them much. So this is what I'll try to buy.

Franco wrote:
Bogong have the OR Meteor mitts with removable liner,however they are 270g..

The Ventia fabric isn't waterproof. The pl liners are nice and thick. The mits and liners do have lots of features (inc magnet latches) no nose wiper..

OR do make (great stuff) similar mits in goretex, their paclite shells are very light, probably make more sense ( for gloves) than event I'd say. Ive taken the liners in mid winter, the shell alone is enough otherwise.

sthughes wrote:I use these: http://www.mainpeak.com.au/snow/snowsports-clothing-accessories/mitts/montane-resolute-mitts.html
I think they are great.

I love the 'nosewipe on the thumb' bit.
I bet that's choice after a windy weekend

Just buy a box of silicon gloves and wear em over the top of your polyprops or wool gloves on the rare occasions you need to.
Cost next to nothing, weigh nothing and just sit on the top of your pack with the rest of your emergency get out of gaol cards.

I can vouch for the ZPacks CF mittens...I have them, and love them. Like others have said, I carry them more than I wear them, but the weight is neglibible, and they are waterproof, and mildly breathable. A little costly at $59, but well worth it on that odd occasion when I need them.